Fire-extinguisher



|I|||n|l|l|llMIIIIIIIIIIllillllllIlla-lllllnllInlnllulllllllllllnllllunnIlulntllnllllllllullwnlnllll Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

n lilMUwNlUlIllllIlIlllllllIlllnlIIIIIIIIIHGJIJWJIIIll-il l lll lll|l||lll J. M. MILLER.

PIRE BXTINGUISHER.

{No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,632, dated October 4, 1892.

Application filed October 26, 1891.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. MILLER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to that class of tire-extinguishers in which a portable vessel is charged with a {ire-extinguishing solution under air or gas pressure and provided with means for discharging such Iiuid upon a re by the force of the contained pressure.

The objects of the invention are to overcome certain objections existing in extinguishers of this class as heretofore constructed, particularly incident to those in which a vessel having but a single compartment is employed, although incident in a minor degree to those of other constructions, whereby the pressure in the vessel is reduced in course of time or the walls or other parts of the apparatus are corroded or destroyed, due to chemical or electrical action. These deleterious effects, it is claimed, are much more noticeable where the liquid and the air or gas are allowed to remain in contact, and therefore in the pres ent device I provide separate and independent compartments for the fluid and air or gas with means whereby the air or gas pressure may be quickly communicated to the Huidapartment and the apparatus thrown into condition for instant use, all without giving the iuid access to the pressure-chamber or parts where its effects could be injurious in the least. To further protect the device against accidental derangement and loss of pressure Without the knowledge of the attendant, I provide a visual indicator, which shows at a glance just the degree of pressure within the pressure-chamber, and such indicator being out of reach of the duid remains practically without deterioration.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical section through the center of an extinguisher constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the dischargecock, showing the lock. Fig. 3 is `Serial No. 409.878. (No model.)

a detail section of a modified form of the connection or iitting between the air and liquid apartments. Fig. 4 is front elevation of the indicator. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional perspective of the preferred form of valve.

Like letters of reference in the several iigures indicate the same parts.

The form of extinguisher illustrated and about to be described is such as is adapted to be held in racks or hung about an edifice at convenient points and when in use to be carried in the hands or arms of the attendant who controls the iiow and direction of the liquid, although it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to many other styles and sizes of extinguishers.

The containing vessel orcasing is lettered Ain the drawings and is of usual or preferred construction, and at a suitable point, usually about one-third of the length of the vessel from the top, is provided with a partition or diaphragm B, which divides the vessel into two separate and distinct compartments, the smaller one constituting the pressure-com partment and the lower and larger one the liquid-compartment. Under normal conditions -z`. e., when the extinguisher is not being used-there is no communication between the two compartment-s, and each may be lled or emptied independently of the other, the liquid being injected through a filling-orifice D in the bottom of the vessel, which may be closed by a simple screw-cap, and the air or gas passes in through a filling-orifice C in the top of the vessel, said last-mentioned orifice being of peculiar valved construction to be presently described.

To admit pressure from the pressure-compartment to the liquid-compartment, I locate a valve in the diaphragm B, Where it is entirely out of the way, and said valve and the mechanism by which it is operated, extending to the outside, are preferably protected from the liquid by a second lightlyset automatic check-valve adapted to permit air to pass through into the liquid-compartment, but to prevent the movement of either liquid or air in the opposite direction, as follows: Passing through the vessel from the outside, preferably the bottom, to the diaphragm is a tube- E, at the top of which is mounted on thediaphragm a fitting F, constituting a valve-seat IOO Y end, across-*bar C',

for the valve G, consisting of a metal cap, a' rubber gasket g, and a metal plate g', held on the end of valve-rod H by a nut g2 or in any suitable manner. The valzze-rod H passes down through the tube E and out through a guide or packing box E', where it is provided with a hand-wheel H. The lower end of the rod isYscrevv-threaded to co-operate with a similar thread inthe guide-box, and to ease the movement ot the valve the rod is preferably provided with a joint H2, which permits the lower portion to rotate independently, while its longitudinal movementis communicated to the upper portion. At a point near the top of the tube a rubber gasket I is inounted'ron the valve-rod to preventany possible escape of pressure or fluidV down the tube when the valve is open, said gasket being preferably of cup or thin'lble shape with the flange up. Thus any pressure in the upper part of YVthe tube at once causes the flange tospread Vand close the tube effectually. Y

In the preferred construction, as stated, the

valve and tube are protected from the liquid by an automatic safety check-valve, although asim ple aperture-such as h, Fig. 3-is allthat is absolutely necessary. The valve referred to is shown in Fig. l, and consists of a rubber disk K, held in place by plate k and pin k over an opening formed in the fitting F and communicating with the valve-opening in the pressure-compartment. Tlhusfreeaccessis afforded from the pressure-compartment to the liquid-compartment, but nothing can pass in the opposite direction. The entrance to the pressure-compartment is formed by a screwthreaded fitting C, securedin thetop shell and having within it, and preferably near the lower headed pin c carrying at the end the rubber disk c2, fitting tightly over the inner end of the fitting and held by a plate c3, soldered `or otherwise secured to the pin, as shown. In the manufacture of these fittings containing valves use is preferably made of ordinary brass-wire nails, which are passed through the iitting Vand receive the rubber disk and plate, which may be forced up as tightly as desired, whenadrop of solder holds the whole' iirmly Yin place. The valve-stem does not move in the direction of 'the disk to open the valve, but the valve is opened by the yielding of the elastic disk.

The pressure within the pressure-chamber is indicated by an indicator consisting of the fitting M, screwing into or otherwise con'- nected with the chamber and carryinga gageglass N, containing glycerine or other suitable yfluid, with a flexible diaphragm O for supporting the same, as shown.

In the preferred construction shown'in'Fig. 4 the gage-glass is held by a case N', which is open at the bottom and screws directly onto the fitting, packings-such as o o-being placed aboveandbelowtheglasstube,asshown in Fig. 1. Below the glass tube is secured the cup-shaped elastic diaphragm O, having on through which passes YaY its annular Harige a bead P, lying outside of a similar bead I on the fitting, which when the ports are screwed together form a double seal.

The liquid is discharged from the nozzle Q of a form nowin extensive use, and needs no :further explanation than to state that in the present instance the set-screw R, which closes the nozzlefis provided with a notched collar or flange r, with which the pivoted locking.- dog s is adaptedto engage to prevent accidental release of the screw. The locking-dog may be thrown back of its center bythe knob swhen yit is desired to open the nozzle and forms no impediment to the quick and free operation of the, extinguisher, While it prevents any accidental release, even though the device be subjected to very rough usage. The end of the locking-dog engaging the collar, it will be noted, is elongated in the direction of the longitudinal movement of the screw. Hence the adjustment of the screw does not affectitsroperativeness. Y

In filling or charging the vessel the liquid is simply poured into the opening D until the liquid-compartment is full,when the aperture is closed by a cap or otherwise, and the airpump or other source ot' pressure is connected with the orifice c and the air-chamber charged to the required degree, when the usual cap (shown in dotted lines) is put in position. It

is understood, of course, that the valve G and nozzles have been previously closed. Now when it is desired to operate the extinguisher the hand-wheel H is'turned to open the valve G slightly and the nozzle opened in the usualmanner, the `stream of liquid being then di-v rected upon the lire. Y By cutting off the pressure the iow can be stopped without getti-ng the hands into the liquid, and the pressure can be ascertained at any time by an inspection ofthe indicator, as hereinbefore explained.

1. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with an inclosing vessel or casing andra diaphragm separating the interior of the Vvessel into pressure and liquid chambers, said diaphragm having an opening or passage for establishing communication between the press- 'ure and liquid chambers, of a valve controlling said passage in the diaphragm and valveoperating devices on the exterior of the vessel, substantially as described. j

2. In a fire-extinguisher, lthe combination, with an inclosin g vessel or casing anda diaphragm separating the interior of the vessel into pressure and liquid chambers, 'said diaphragm having an opening or passage for establishing communication between the pressure and liquid chambers, of a valve controlling said passage in t-he diaphragm and a valvestem controlling the valve passing through the liquid-chamber to the exterior of the vessel, substantially as describedA 3. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the Vessel, the diaphragm dividing the same into two compartments, and the valve IOC IIO

located in said diaphragm, of the tube passing through one of the compartments to the valve and the valve-rod passing through said tube, substantially as described.

4:. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the vessel, the diaphragm dividing the same into two compartments, and the valve located in said diaphragm, of the tube passing through the lower eompartmen t, the valverod passing through the tube, and the packing or gasket surrounding the valve-stem and fitting in the upper end of the tube, whereby `the escape of pressure or liquid through the tube is prevented, substantially as described.

5. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the vessel, the diaphragm dividing the same into two compartments, and the valve located in said diaphragm and opening into the air-compartment, of the check-valve opening into the liquidcompartment, substantially as described.

6. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the vessel, the diaphragm dividing the vessel into two compartments, the valve lo cated in said diaphragm and opening into the air-compartment, and the valve-stem controlling said valve passing to the outside, of the check-valve opening into the liquid-compartment for preventing access of the liquid to the first-mentioned valve, substantially as described.

7. In a {ire-extinguisher, the combination, with the Vessel, the diaphragm dividing the vessel into two compartments, the valve located in the diaphragm and opening into the air-compartment, the valve-stem, and the tube surrounding said stem passing through the liquid-compartment, of the checkvalve controlling the opening from the firstmentioned valve to the liquid -compartment, substantially as described.

8. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, withthe vessel and the diaphragm dividing the same into two compartments, of the fitting secured on the diaphragm and having openings to the respective compartments, oppositely-arranged valves located in said openings, and a valve-stem for opening the valve in the pressure-compartment, substantially as described.

9. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the vessel provided with two compartments for the air and liquid, respectively, of the iitting forming the communication between said compartments, the check-valve for preventing the entrance of liquid to said tting, and the valve controlling the passage of air through the fitting, substantially as described.

10. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the vessel, of the valve-fitting having the cross-piece, the elastic disk covering the opening in the fitting, the plate overlying the disk, and the pin passing through the cross-piece disk and plate and held by the cross-piece against movement in the direction of the elastic disk, substantially as described.

ll. In a tire-extinguisher, the combination, with the vessel, of the valve formed by the itting, the elastic disk covering the opening therein, the plate overlying the disk, and the pin secured to the plate and fitting and passing through and holding the disk compressed against the fitting, substantially as described.

JOSEPH M. MILLER.-

Witnesses:

A. MONTGOMERY WARD, CHAs. H. THORNE. 

